Welcome to Day 1!

Posted on December 3, 2014

I’m posting late because this game has been on my mind all day!

There are so many cool things we can do here…and I’m testing out the blog post function for the first time. The sticky notes on the main page have a 1000 character limit and I simply have too much on my mind today…

This will be my 10^th game hosting I think, and I’ve fallen into a pattern that I think works fairly well.

But I tell you what…December is not like any other month. Temptations that come along once a month will likely come along every day! Plus, it is a month of celebration and shouldn’t be about deprivation... right?

For us to win at this, we’re really going to have to stay present (ha ha) and focus on the big picture to help make these daily decisions easier and more fulfilling.

I plan to post daily tid-bits like always – some thought provoking some tactical, as you will need both this month more than ever. I also do a pretty good job keeping up on your comments and questions.

This month, I challenge you all to do the same. Be present and post every day. Stay engaged. Share your wins, challenges, answer questions, post blogs…just stay involved in whatever way you like. Even if you’re very private and don’t like to share…still come here and “like” others to show your support and commitment to this shared goal.

We’re like an army right now preparing to go to battle and we’re going to need each other to get through this happy and healthy. If you check out for days at a time, the farther you get away from your focus the easier it will be to slip and feel guilty about it…bad-bad

Day 1 & 2 Questions are about engagement and commitment.

This might be the most important post of the game so I’m leaving it for 2 days:

How will you stay engaged in this game and committed to this goal (.01% of your time)?
How will you stay present while away from the computer (99.9% of your time)? What will you say to yourself (your mantra) when you’re staring at that extra and unnecessary “treat?” What can you say aloud, write on a sticky note or simply think to yourself at times of need?

Craft your mantra to be meaningful to you and read others for additional inspiration.

Final thoughts…

Indulgences will happen but it does not mean we can’t still find success. Together, we can do this and we can ring in 2015 happier and healthier than ever before. We will Eat. Drink & be Skinny (healthy, fit, sassy and strong)!

Are you with me? Let’s DO this!

--Teresa Marie

Comment Now!

hawksbroncs

09/09/2015 12:57PM

I love simple and easy. I feel life is more simple when I am thinner. I don't have to go through my whole closet each morning to find what fits and I feel like I don't have to add more to getting ready to feel cuter, so my motivation is healthier is simpler.

Teresa Marie

Excellent motivation!!

Julia R.

05/26/2015 1:50PM

I'm with @QsMama, where do we post email addresses for the meal plan? Thanks!

NATALIE L. likes this comment.

NATALIE L.

05/26/2015 10:03AM

Teresa Marie -- Where would you like me to post my email address for the meal plan?

Julia R. likes this comment.

gn'

I plan to log in and do unofficial weigh ins a few times a week. I also want to read, respond, and post more regularly to stay engaged.

Cheryl C. and M C. like this comment.

Teresa Marie

Yay Glenda -- thank you for being here :)

Kasi G.

12/04/2014 7:58AM

1. I plan on logging on most days, I read and like more than I post, but I do try to contribute. I know I like it when people respond to me, so I want to give that back to others as well.
2. I'm planning on joining a challenge group that starts in a week and a half, and I'm doing The Asylum most mornings until then. I'm trying to get back into logging everything in MFP, that keeps me pretty accountable, but I need to find a few new 'friends' on there, one person I had been interacting with deleted her profile. (sad) I also plan on setting up some sort of reminder at my new desk at work (I'm transferring in a couple weeks, and I'm mostly mobile at the moment). I need something that I'll recognize, but doesn't shout out to coworkers that "hey, I'm dieting and execising and trying to lose weight!"

M C. and Cheryl C. like this comment.

Teresa Marie

A simple not that says healthy is happy autta do it ;) You have a great plan and I know there are a lot of dietbetters on MFP! In fact, there is a huge community group: https://www.dietbetter.com/community/groups/8-myfitnesspal-devotees they look pretty active too! I know having a few designated partners in crime really helps :) You have a great plan -- we CAN do this!

Katie

12/04/2014 7:49AM

I have the app on my phone so that will help me stay engaged. I will work on posting more than I did last month and maybe that will help a bit.
When looking at temptation I will ask myself a few questions, first am I actually hungry? Do I need this? And Have I done something that deserves this kind of reward?

M C. and Cheryl C. like this comment.

Teresa Marie

So good Katie -- you've GOT this!

CatsNK

12/04/2014 7:38AM

I know I have to stay engaged to succeed in this game. I'm committed to checking in daily and updating on progress. I find that about 2-weeks in I tend to lose motivation and things get rocky. I'm hoping that won't happen this time. My mantra - I haven't given that much thought. I just sold all my "fat" clothes on ebay so maybe my mantra should be, "I'm NOT buying new clothes to accommodate weight gain!"

M C. and Cheryl C. like this comment.

Teresa Marie

That is awesome about eBay and letting it feed your mantra. Such a good idea :) And you're totally right about the 2 weeks in. I see it across the board in all my games and I'm hoping we can defy that pattern this year as well :)

TravelFunKes

12/04/2014 4:33AM

Great motivation Teresa.
1. I'm a poster, I will post!
2. My mantra this month is 'be healthy'. Last month, I became complacent as my clothes were fitting and I was getting lots of compliments. But I'm still far from health (still in the 'obese' BMI category) so I need to stay focused on being healthy.

M C. and Cheryl C. like this comment.

Kasi G.

I could have written your second one, word for word.

Teresa Marie

Focusing on health will always lead you in the right direction! And it will bring you much deeper, longer term happiness than just the bits of joy all these little holiday temptations present...

BellaKat

12/03/2014 9:58PM

I plan to stay engaged by daily tracking my food and water intake, keeping myself and another gal motivated in physical activity, and reading and posting on here as much as I can!

When I away from my phone ( which is rare) I will think how good this will be when I am down this weight and not to mess up all the work I have put in so far!

M C., Cheryl C., TravelFunKes and Brandy G. like this comment.

Teresa Marie

I like this plan BellaKat!